A SIMPLE OVERHEAD SETUP FOR FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

When it comes to food photography, overhead shots are absolutely gorgeous. There are a couple of ways to go about it, but they weren’t always successful for me. I’m going to share what didn’t work and why, but most importantly, I’m going to share a simple overhead setup for food photography that I learned from the super talented Skyler over at We Eat Together. It has solved all of my problems when it comes to shooting food overhead and results in gorgeous images every time.

Holding the Camera

Like most food photographers, including myself, you probably started shooting overhead shots by standing over the food and holding the camera. You know… you look, you lean and you hope you got the shot. Several images and a sore back later, this method was just too much of a guessing game for me. Sometimes it worked out, but “sometimes” wasn’t enough for me.

Using a Tripod (and an extension arm)

I decided to invest in a good Tripod that would hold up in my home studio, but could also travel with me on location shoots. The legs flipped upside down, so I could position the ball head for overhead shots. I thought this was THE answer to my problem with overhead shots and for a while, it was.

The problem with this overhead setup for me was that the legs of the tripod would get in the way a lot, which would cause frustration during the photo shoot and extra editing during post production. I would also have to setup my overhead shots on the floor, which got exhausting. And, if I wanted to get angled shots from the same shoot, I’d have to take the setup apart and redo it on a table. No bueno. I dug up some old pictures of this setup starring one of my food stylists, Elena.

I also invested in a Photek Tipod Extension Arm for my tripod, which eliminated the issue of the tripod legs being in the way, but I still had to setup my overhead shots on the floor. So, I kept looking for another solution… and finally, I found it.

The Solution

Thanks to Skyler over at We Eat Together, I now have a reliable (and pretty bad ass) overhead setup that works perfectly for my food photography. No more guessing and hoping I got the shot…no more tripod legs interfering with the shot… no more shooting on the floor… and no more sore back!

The Gear

Let’s talk about the gear you’ll need. I’m sharing images that I’ve shot using this awesome overhead setup and included links to everything you’ll need below. There’s also a summary with all of the links listed at the end of the post as well.

1. You’ll need two Manfrotto Light Stands.Set these up first. These stands will hold the extension grip arm (listed next) and allow you to raise and lower the camera with ease.

3. You’ll need two Avenger Grips.The Extension Grip Arm will come with one Avenger Grip attached on one end, but you’ll need two more: one for the middle of the arm to hold the camera and another to attach to the other end of the extension arm so you can attach it to both light stands.

4. You’ll need a Neewer 1/4 to 3/8 Spigot.This will attach to the grip in the middle of your extender arm and also to the ball head from your tripod. You’ll get two per order, but you’ll only need to use one.

5. You’ll need a Manfrotto 055 Tripod with Ball Head.This tripod is very sturdy for my home studio and also travels really well. The ball head is easily removable to use for this overhead setup.

6. If investing in a tripod is not an option right now, you could just buy the ball head separately.I already have the tripod mentioned that comes with the ball head. I purchased another ball head separately. This allows me to have one ball head connected to my overhead setup and the other connected to my tripod for angle shots.

Shooting Tethered

It’s important to note that this overhead setup requires you to shoot “tethered” which means your camera has a cable connecting it to your computer. This allows you to review the images on your computer screen rather than on the small screen on the back of your camera. If you don’t shoot tethered with this setup, you’ll be standing on a ladder to check your images on the back of your camera each time you shoot and… well, that’s not ideal at all.

I use this Teathering Cable because it’s compatible with Nikon and long enough to let me setup my computer in a convenient location (out of the way). Make sure that the tethering cable you want is compatible with your camera model first. You can find this information in the description of the product, by googling it or just ask the seller directly.

Summary

There is no right or wrong way to shoot food photography. It’s important to do what works best for you and your budget. I found this setup to be the answer to all of my overhead shooting issues and if you struggle with “guessing” and hoping you got the shot, shooting on the floor, tripod legs getting in the way or even just a sore back… I believe this is the best solution. It cost me under $500 and with as popular as overhead food shots can be, it was absolutely worth it. This setup is solid and will last forever.

If you run into any questions at all, feel free to comment below or simply shoot me an email directly at: regan@reganbaroni.com. Skyler also made a videofor the setup so be sure to check that out too. It was super helpful for me.

Attach one avenger grip in the middle of the extension arm and the other on the end of the extension arm. Connect the avenger grips on the ends to the light stands. Use a level to be sure your setup is straight and even.

Attach the spigot to the middle avenger grip. Then, attach the ball head from your tripod to the spigot. Make sure it feels secure. Then, attach your camera and use a tethering cable to review some test shots on your computer to be sure the setup is level and displaying the shot as you’d like. Make adjustments as needed.

* This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click or make a purchase through my site, I might make a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I only promote products and equipment that I actually use and support.

This is so informative!! Thank you so much! On another note…I noticed on your setup that it looks like you have an umbrella light and a reflector…do you shoot with natural light? Would I be able to attain the beautiful soft lighting you get without the natural light? It’s a challenge finding time to shoot while the sun is still out and without my 5 year old running around during the day lol.

Hi Jas!
Thanks for commenting! Yes, I shot with natural light for years before I got into using studio lights. I love natural light, but I really really love studio lights now because of the consistency and control I have – no matter what time of day it is and no matter what the lighting situation is. It allows for more flexibility on ‘when’ you shoot, especially if you are juggling other things during the day when natural light is readily available. I hope this helps! Feel free to email me directly with other questions. Cheers!